Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-01-19

and clothing. This OTgsHlZatiOn wa
changed at the lister date, and additions
bureaus were formed and the duties diff
iferently divided, as follows: Yards ant
docks, construction and repair, steam en-
gineeripe, equipment aud recruiting. nav
isation, ordinance, provisions and cloth
ing, medicine and surgery.
This is also thepresentOTganiZatio The
/ story comes down to US that the chiefs OF
these bureaus got together one dsy In
1867 and, over their wsinuts and wine,
apportioned out to themselves, with the
consent of the then secretary she entire
power of the department, so that esch
might nave one of his own, with clerks,
writers, messengers, telegraph operators,
and every other kind of empluve that
might be necessary to the dig1ity and
responsibility of the bureau system.
Thus, using the language of the commits
sion of 1882, each navy yard became made
of number OF separate and compare
lively independent establishments, little
pri1cipalities as it were, each owing ale
glance to its own sovereign, the chief OF
the bureau to which 1t belonged.
One, however superficial, can readily
perceive that this division CT authority
among officials, independent of one an
other, could not but beget discord, ire
sporslOility. extravaganza and failure.
Out of so iucOherent aud unnatural q con-
nection of independent authorities no
good thing could possibly come. Eight
petty monarchs in every navy yard-esch
one vsin Of his own authority and
Jealous of the Importance of
others; resentful of every attempt
ed encroaChment upon his juris-
diction; and expanding the revenues, al
lowed him by law, with reckless prodigal-
ity-were too powerful for even so strong
secretary as Mr.. Chandler in his at
tempt to correct the evils and to reform
the abuses that characterized the admin
istration of the naval department during
his term of office.
Mr.. Chandler failed in the attempt, and
so will every other secretary fail unless
congress aid him with appropriate and
specific legislation.
1t would seem that the administration
of the bureau of medicine and surgery
should, from the very nature of its appro-
pirate duties, be entirely free from com
plication; yet we find that if a man be
sick he is transported to hospital at the
recruiting, but if he be insane the cost OF
his trans portatiOn must be borne by the
bureau of medicine and surgery And if
the sick man be taken to a hospital out
side of tie United States the charge for
his transportation and for his main
tensrce ct the hospital falls upon the
bureau of medicine and surgery. The
patient recovering, he returns to
his ship at the cost of the bu
reau Of equipment and recruiting; but
dying, his funeral expenses are betrayed
by the secr&ary OF the navy.
There is certain grim humor in all
this. From the very moment the poor
fellow entered into the servie until life
departed from his exhausted body, the
chiefs of bureaus, each in his turn, main
tanned with Jealous care exclusive juris-
diction over him. The ms, ant, however,
that he ceases 10 breathe they turn coidly
and carelessly away from his lifrless re-
mains. But dead, he is more honored
than when living.
A cabiuet officer pauses awhile from the
duties of his exalted station and gives TO
The neglected body an appropriate burial.
And, Mr.. Chairman, right here l want
to call the attention of the committee to
the fact that year after year congress has
been spprepriating specific sums to each
of these bureaus, and that over the money
so appropriated the secretary has not the
slightest control. lie cannot order the
transfer of money from one bureau to an
other, fJr congress provides that the
money shall be committed, in each case,
to the custody of the chief of the particu-
lar bureau. That IS one of the reasons
why it is impossible for the
secretary to require, when sick man or
an insane man has to be carried to the
hospital, that his transportation shall be
paid by any particular bureau. 1t is also
reason why, when a man dies, none of
these bureaus will take charge of mis- re-
mains, but will turn him over to the
custody OF the secretary of the navy him
self. The bureaus, as now constituted,
are Independent, in great measure, OF one
another and also of the secretary. As
their warrant of authority and jurIsdc-
ton they point to the act of congress
which organized our present bureau sys-
TEN in 1862.
The history of the naval department,
Mr.. Chairman, for the past twenty years
is full to the OVERLOOKING of instances of
objectionable extravaganza, irreconcila-
BILE discord, and fatal irresponsibitity,
resulting in great measure from the
unwise constitution of the present
bureau system. Its baneful effects may
be plainly seen, as | have before said, as
vel. in the utter worthlessness of our
war vessels a. in the deplorable condition
of our Yards, and we have it from the
highest and most trustworthy of living
authorities, Admiral Porter, that we can
have no system, maintain no proper dis
ciplire, and build no effective ships until
the department is recognized.
This reorganization, if it is to be of
any value whatever, must have for its
controlling features he principles of uni
ty of action and responsibility; and the
subdivisions of work that is to result
must be upon those lines which have
been long since and plainly established
by the great ana successful business con-
Germs of the country in the management
of their own affairs: and, in addition TO
these essential requisites, the secretary
must be supplied with the means that will
enable him to act promptly, decisively,
and wisely upon all questions submitted
him.
The bill under consideration, Mr..
Chairman, is substantial compliance
with such form of organization. 1t has
been carefully considered and matured,
and the committee on naval affairs con-